Writing tools - Good medical writing
It seems obvious but itʼs surprising how many people forget the golden rule of good writing. Put your reader first. And in the middle. And at the end. To get your message across, show your audience whatʼs in it for them.
Know who youʼre talking to
Make sure you know your audience. Offer appropriate material for different readerships. For example, patients respond well to a conversational style while physicians expect formal, scientific language.
Know your facts
In healthcare and medical writing, accuracy is essential. Make sure you can reference every key point to an authoritative source (preferably more than one). Keep checking the facts and ask an expert to review your copy. If you are an expert, ask a colleague to read your copy before you submit it. Balance is important, too. Acknowledge other views in the field, even if they differ from yours.
Keep records
Keep a record of your sources on file. This helps other people when they are reviewing your work before publication. For some medical writing projects, it is a regulatory or contractual requirement. Such records are also very useful if you write about the same topic again in the future.
